, at the age of 23, I won an election to the New York State assembly. I became very interested in civil service reform by working with the assembly and with Governor Grover Cleveland.
             Alice and I were married for four years when tragedy struck. Two days after giving birth to our first daughter, Alice died from the after effects of childbirth. That same day, my mother died from typhoid fever. (Gable 466) With the losses of the two women in my life, I fled politics and went west. I ran two cattle ranches on the Little Missouri River, in the Dakota Territory. I needed time away from the world to gather my thoughts and get some order back into my life. I would often ride a horse 12-14 hours a day on the open plains. Other days, I would make additions to my many different books. In 1886, a winter storm killed all of my livestock and I was forced to back to the city that I ran away from so easily two years earlier. My time in the west taught me a great deal and was exactly what I needed at the time.
             In 1886, when I returned to New York City, I was asked by the Republican Party to run for Governor of New York. I agreed, but I was easily defeated. However, I learned a great deal from the loss. Shortly after the defeat, I met and courted Edith Kermit Carrow, a childhood friend. We were later married in December of 1886. Together we had five children, with one being Theodore Jr. I loved all of my children, especially my wife's namesake, Alice, from my first marriage. I played with the children as much as possible.
             In 1888, I was appointed as Civil Service Commissioner by then President Benjamin Harrison. This was mainly the result of the speaking tour I did to help get him elected. With this job, I tried to improve the merit system by establishing examinations for some civil service jobs. (Gable 467) In 1893, Grover Cleveland reappointed me as Civil Service Commissioner and I was very grateful. In 1895, I was as...